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Monday, 17 March 2014

The New 'Kodachrome' (Music Notes)

My friend-I've-never-met Gordon Lewis (and we should do something about that someday, Gordon) sent me a link the other day, wondering idly if perhaps photography needed an updated anthem now that Paul Simon's "Kodachrome" is as outdated as—well, Kodachrome. It was a song called "Bad Self Portraits" by a band I'd never heard of called Lake Street Dive.

Unfortunately, Lake Street Dive are not the only ones who've been busy penning songs about selfies. In return, I inflicted on Gordon a considerably less listenable song that I'd happened across while roving the radio band in the car a few days ago. I managed to find it online—turns out it's by a group called The Chainsmokers, and it's titled "#SELFIE."

Although fun in a kind of appalling way (it's satire), #SELFIE is mildly toxic music-product that might possibly damage your brain. I recommend proceeding with caution here.

A little more searching turned up an aspiring chanteuse called Nina Nesbitt, who has a song called "Selfies." And then—I almost hesitate to name this—I stumbled into the pit of "Me So Selfie" by "Tim Fite and Bonaparte." This is a bit beyond toxic—more like carcinogenic. :-) Do not listen! Brain damage can occur. (I kid. Although a page about it promises it could cure young people of taking selfies altogether, an idea which admittedly has appeal.)

All in all, with apologies to Gordon, I'd say photography is still waiting for its up-to-date two-thousand-teens anthem.

...But speaking of music, if you're a Zep fan (as most White Guys of a Certain Age are), check out a cover of "Ramble On" I stumbled across by a band called Redeye Empire. Love it.

Supposed to be reggae-tinged, although I think that's arguable. But an interesting new (but not too new) arrangement of an old favorite. This video had 322 views at the time of embedding, so I'm assuming this is not popular.

...And then speaking of selfies, recognize this young man?

General Colin L. Powell posted it on his Facebook page four days ago, along with this message (apparently addressed to Ellen Degeneres): "Throwback Thursday—I was doing selfies 60 years before you Facebook folks. Eat your heart out Ellen!"

The link came from William Barnett-Lewis, who says, "I love the old Kodak Signet 35 he's holding. Nice little rangefinder even if a bit limited in lens (44mm ƒ/3.5) and shutter (maximum speed 1/300th). According to Camerapedia, it was an expensive little toy—sold for $95 (app. $810 USD in 2007 dollars). Rather like a nice new Micro 4/3 kit would cost these days...."

Finally, I want to add this: I've listened to the song "Carnival" at least 50 times over many years (it came out 19 years ago!!) and love it to death, but I'd never once seen the video before reader Howard Linton sent me the link the other day. I guess it makes this the street photographer's anthem, for sure.

Mike(Thanks to Gordon, William, and Howard)

UPDATE from Gordon Lewis: "For what it's worth, I doubt there will ever be a new 'Kodachrome,' either literally or symbolically. One of the things that made Paul Simon's 'Kodachrome' so special was that underneath the bubbly froth of the rhythm and outro ('Mama don't take my Kodachrome, Mama don't take my Kodachrome...') was a clever metaphor that contrasted the negativity of the singer's life ('When I look back on all the crap I learned in high school') with the positivity of using Kodachrome in a Nikon camera. The fact that Kodachrome, unlike black-and-white, was a positive (i.e. slide) film only added to the cleverness. 'Bad Self Portraits,' the tune I turned Mike on to, isn't anywhere near as classic but at least it hints at how artists use cameras as a form of self-expression.

"As for the fact that I now find myself humming the melody (if you can call it that) to '#SELFIE,' all I can say is, I'll get even Mike. I'll get even."

Original contents copyright 2014 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)Featured Comments from:

robert e: "Well, Mike and Gordon, for your listening pleasure (or terror), there's a dubious list of songs 'about photography' on Wikipedia. (many of which have little to do with photography). There seems to be much overlap with this YouTube playlist. I've only scratched the surface, but I was pleased to revisit (via youtube) Blondie's 'Picture This' and Johnny Cash's 'Send A Picture of Mother,' and pleasantly surprised by the Kinks' 'People Take Pictures of Each Other' (anti-selfie anthem, anyone?). But as loose as the criteria seem to be, there's much missing, too, such as The Pretenders' 'Back On The Chain Gang,' or 10cc's 'I'm Not In Love.'"

Paul: "Re 'Carnival': I want to get a Leica and shoot blurry, off-kilter pictures. I'm not joking. I really do."

Dave in NM: "OK. You want a selfie song? How about a song that talks about a selfie done with B&W film? 'Are You Happy Now' by Richard Shindell."

Comments

Maybe we don't, quite yet. Especially considering that 'Kodachrome' the song is as good in it's genre as Kodachrome the film was in it's.
I've been to a couple of Jay Maisel (who shot everything on Kodachrome) Seminars, and on one occasion specifically asked him about his Kodachrome to Digital transition.
Now Mr.Maisel does not do computers or electrical mail, so I was interested in his process. His answer was that his assistant sets up his Nikon for the exact look he wants, and he just shoots. Even, I believe, continuing his practice of a very narrow exposure bracket to control saturation the same way he did with Kodachrome.
I do not Speak for Mr Maisel and have no Idea if this is what he continues to do, but I thought it was interesting.
Now, modern cameras , (Fuji comes to mind) are getting accolades for their excellent film simulations, so I wonder if Mr Maisel's technique deserves a second look.
Personally, I haven't tried it, I shoot everything RAW and still shoot a tiny bit of Film. Thinking that Film is Film and Digital Simulations are, well..., just that. Perhaps I should have a more open mind.
Custom functions or user presets could be used as though you were changing film. This might be especially true if your style involved minimal post processing.
We could keep our 'Look' and our Anthem , we'd just have to look for new anthems for Velvia or Tri-X
I wonder what others think?
Michael

I thought that The Chainsmokers video was quite entertaining, poking fun at airheaded people.

After the Redeye Empire video I dug out my Led Zeppelin Mothership album. Volume up! A couple more tracks and I'll get to hear Ramble On again!

I've been taking frequent selfies since long before they were called that. Usually with a 24mm lens and Fuji slide film, usually at arm's length. It was easier in the film days because now I use a solidly built DSLR and a 16-50 zoom, which weigh about twice as much as the film camera and lens. I can hold the rig up, it's just pointing it in the right direction that's the problem.

Selfies with a fisheye lens are quite entertaining. Lovely perspective!

The Manic Street Preachers - yes, there used to be a band with such obnoxious name - have a song named 'Kevin Carter', from their 1996 album 'Everything Must Go'. It is not by any chance their best song, but it's a nice homage nonetheless. Both to photography and Kevin Carter.
You can watch their rather literal interpretation of the word 'shooting' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLDr0QNCUd4
(Spoiler alert: the guy sings 'click click click click click' somewhere past the middle of the song...)

I've got one of these little cameras and can confirm that they are capable of very nice images.

Also from Camerapedia:

Kodak Ektar f/3.5, 44 mm., This 4-element Tessar type lens was supplied on the Kodak Signet 35, and was described by Anne Ruder in Modern Photography magazine as "comparable to lenses in the most expensive 35mm cameras". Kodak advertisements of the time claimed this lens was superior to the German lenses on their own Retinas. From the 1953 version of Kodak Data Book - Lens, Shutters and Portra Lenses, "This four-element completely Lumenized Ektar lens, especially designed for the Kodak Signet 35 Camera is one of the finest lenses ever produced for a miniature camera, regardless of price. Black-and-white negatives are crisp and needle-sharp, capable of being enlarged many diameters without loss of detail. Kodachrome transparencies have greater color purity and saturation than ever before. Focusing is consistently accurate throughout the entire focusing range from 2 feet to infinity. The lens mount is supported by 50 ball bearings, working smoothly and accurately at all seasonal temperatures."

I could also add my brother-in-law's band (The Young Fresh Fellows) cover of the Kink's "Picture Book" as a photo related song. The video made it into the MTV video rotation in the early 80's. (My wife is the older child in the picture at 24 seconds in). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd4Jjcw9xeM&feature=kp

Some of the songs are pitched down a bit to accommodate Plant's voice. It's interesting that some people don't notice this just like some people don't notice different color light sources (until you point it out).

Here is my late entry photo-song, by the redoubtable Kris Kristofferson. It's from 2007, already a while back, and I say he kills it here, with old school cowboy chords and a harmonica. Writer of "Me and Bobby McGee", "Loving Her Was Easier" and "Sunday Morning Coming Down"... just standing there on a summer night, singing a song. I can't get this out of my head. Don't really want to.

Re: #selfies, it seems to me that you your writing interests might be doing circles over the years. I was just revisiting your old site and... well, your FIFTH post since launching T.O.P. was about... Icelandic self-portraits.